Cap and visor apparatus

ABSTRACT

A baseball-type cap and visor apparatus having a visor portion simulating that of an actual “off-road” motorcycle or other bike racing helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to baseball-type caps and more particularly, to a novelty baseball-type cap having a cap portion and a visor portion where the visor portion is representative of an off-road motorcycle racing helmet visor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Novelty baseball-type caps are well known in the art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,821 to Kiefer there is shown a novelty baseball-type cap in the form of a “scrambled egg.” In Design Pat. No. 419,752 there is illustrated a baseball-type cap having a visor bearing the stitching on its visor or bill replicating the stitching on a baseball.

Bicycle or motorcycling is well known as a sport. To avoid injuries, helmets of all type are worn by individuals engaging in such activity. One such form of helmet is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,843 which shows a removable visor attached to the helmet shell and further includes vents in the visor for communicating with vents in the shell to aerodynamically carry air through the helmet. Such helmets frequently are worn in a popular sport designated as “off road” bicycle or motorcycle racing. A commercially successful version of an “off-road” motorcycle racing helmet bearing the designation “RX2” is distributed by Fulmer Helmets, Memphis, Tenn. and is illustrated at Fulmerhelmets.com.

The present invention fills the need for a novelty baseball-type cap that has a visor or bill replicating that on a bicycle or motorcycle racing helmet, and more particularly, simulates the visor on an “off-road” bike racing helmet. Such novelty caps may be worn to associate one's affinity for “off-road” bike racing, or merely as a novel fashion statement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a cap and visor apparatus including a cap portion and a visor portion in the general format of a baseball-type cap. The visor portion however is representative of an off-road motorcycle racing helmet visor. In an alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention, orientation angle securement means are provided for securing a selected orientation angle of the visor portion with respect to the cap portion. In yet another alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention, the visor portion has vents simulating the vents on an actual helmet visor.

The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus which is novel in appearance compared to the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such shovel apparatus available to the buying public.

Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus in the form of a baseball style cap and where the visor simulates the visor on an “off-road” racing bike helmet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus having a visor simulating that on an “off-road” bicycle or motorcycle racing helmet where the visor may be adjusted and secured in a tilted position.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cap and visor apparatus having a visor simulating that on an “off-road” bike racing helmet where the visor includes aerodynamic flow vents.

These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view showing a first embodiment of the cap and visor apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the cap and visor apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the portion of the cap and visor apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the orientation angle of the apparatus is adjustable.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view of third embodiment of the invention, wherein the visor portion includes a series of vents or openings to simulate the aerodynamic vents on an actual “off-road” bike racing helmet.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in

FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in

FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the invention shown in

FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the visor portion of the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 7-9 showing in central cross-section one of the vents in the visor portion thereof.

FIG. 12 a perspective assembly view of the visor portion and a portion of the cap portion of the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 7-9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a new and improved cap and visor apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

Turning initially to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a first embodiment of the cap and visor apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference numeral 10. In each of the figures, reference numerals are shown that correspond to like reference numerals that designate like elements shown in other figures.

In the first embodiment, cap and visor apparatus 10 includes a cap or crown portion 12 and a visor portion 14. The cap and visor portions are assembled together generally in the form of a well known baseball-type cap. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the visor portion 14 is representative of an off-road motorcycle racing helmet visor. Visor-to-cap connection means are provided for suitably connecting the visor portion 14 to the cap portion 12 as will be explained in more detail below. Exemplary off-road motorcycle helmet visors and bicycle helmet visors are well known, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,843, or in the catalog of Fulmer Helmets, Memphis, Tenn., as mentioned above. These references hereby are incorporated herein by this reference. Thus, as assembled, it will be appreciated that cap and visor apparatus 10 comprises a novelty baseball-type cap with a visor simulating that of an actual “off-road” motorcycle or bicycle racing helmet.

With respect to the present invention, the visor-to-cap connection means can take a variety of forms, for example stitches. Preferably, the visor-to-cap connection means can include a pair of visor-to-cap connection hinges 16. Each of the visor-to-cap connection hinges 16 includes a hinge member 18 and a locking pin 20 is connected to an end of the hinge member 18.

If it is desired to adjust the orientation angle 28 between the visor portion 14 and the cap portion 12, the visor portion 14 can be tilted upward/downward, with respect to the cap portion 12, around the visor-to-cap connection hinges 16. The inherent friction between the visor portion 14, the visor-to-cap connection hinges 16, and the cap portion 12 tend to retain the visor portion 14 at the visor portion 14 includes an upstanding visor portion 26 adjacent to the cap portion 12.

Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment 50 of the invention is shown wherein orientation angle securement means are provided for securing a selected orientation angle 28 of the visor portion 14 with respect to the cap portion 12.

The orientation angle securement means can include adjustment slots 22 in the upstanding visor portion 26. Securement screws 24 are placed in registration with the adjustment slots 22. The securement screws 24 penetrate into the cap portion 12.

When it is desired to adjust and select the orientation angle 28 and then secure it at the selected orientation angle 28, the securement screws 24 are first loosened. Then, the visor portion 14 is tilted around the visor-to-cap connection hinges 16 to the selected orientation angle 28. When this done, the adjustment slots 22 slide around the loosened securement screws 24. At the selected orientation angle 28, the securement screws 24 are tightened so that they clamp the upstanding visor portion 26 to the cap portion 12, whereby the visor portion 14 is secured to the cap portion 12 at the selected orientation angle 28.

Turning to FIGS. 7-12, a third alternatively preferred embodiment of the improved cap and visor apparatus is shown where the visor portion 14 is directly assembled to cap or crown portion 12 by stitching along a seam 30. For this purpose, visor portion 14 is provided at it rear distal extremity with an upturned flange portion 32. Visor portion 14 preferably further includes a pair of lateral vents or through openings 34, 36 substantially as depicted and a central vent or through opening 38. Lateral vents 34, 36 are disposed at the terminus of shallow ramps 40, 42 respectively disposed in the upper surface of visor portion 14 substantially as depicted in FIGS. 8-12. Similarly, vent 38 is disposed at the terminus of shallow ramp 44. It will be noted in the drawings that vents 34, 36 are at the rear of ramps 40, 42 whereas vent 38 is at the front of ramp 44 when viewed in FIGS. 8-12 (i.e. the lateral ramps and central ramp extend oppositely). Vents 34, 36, and 38, and shallow ramps 40, 42 and 44, simulate the actual vents often found on actual “off-road” motorcycle or bike racing helmet visors. Finally, it will be observed that decorative graphical indicia (unlabeled) is disposed on selected panels of the cap portion 12, and on the top and bottom surface of visor portion 14 to further increase the novelty and appearance of the present invention.

The components of the cap and visor apparatus of the invention can be made from inexpensive and durable cloth or plastic materials.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved shovel apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, and which may advantageously be used to provide a novelty baseball-type cap having a visor portion simulating that of an actual “off-road” motorcycle or other bike racing helmet.

Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.

Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

1. Baseball-type cap and visor apparatus, comprising: a crown potion, a visor portion attached to said crown, said visor being shaped and configured to simulate the look of an actual off-road bike racing helmet visor.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said visor is attached to said crown by a pair of spaced hinges permitting said visor to be selectively tiltedly adjusted on said crown portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said visor portion includes at least one vent simulating the aerodynamic vent on an actual off-road bike racing helmet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one vent is disposed at the terminus of a shallow ramp disposed in a surface of said visor portion.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said visor portion includes at least a pair of spaced vents simulating the aerodynamic vents on an actual off-road bike racing helmet.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said visor portion further includes at least one additional vent disposed between said pair of vents.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said visor portion includes first, second and third shallow ramp portions and said pair of vents and said at least one additional vent are disposed at the terminus of a respective shallow ramp portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first and second shallow ramps portions extend oppositely with respect to said third shallow ramp portion.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visor portion further includes decorative indicia thereon.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a portion of said crown portion includes decorative indicia thereon.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visor portion is connected to said crown portion via a stitched seam extending through a flange provided at the extremity of said visor portion and a portion of said crown. 